Games still causing PC to freeze

[monicandave]

Not sure it’s ever really been done. How often is it needed?

Was definitely planning to give it a good clean when we redo the thermal paste.

[Rustys]

When you are showing system issues and is always great as a preemptive maintance.

[monicandave]

Well then, oops ops:
It never occurred to me to clean it. I will do better in the future. Thanks

[Bruce]

I’ve used Artic Silver paste in the paste, and had no issues.
but really, the price (tends to) tell you how good the product should be.

from memory I paid about $12 (AUS) for a little tube, and it lasted maybe half a dozen applications.

with the dust cleaning, be sure to get all the chassis vents and their fans, any heatsinks and their fans, the graphics card (if one), and the power supply.
I find it best using an air-compressor, you just need to hold the fans when you hit them with the air gun to prevent the RPM’s going above their tolerances.

the cans of compressed air will work as well but I find them too expensive.

[phillpower2]

try something like MSIs own Afterburner not to be used for overclocking here only to monitor the CPU temps and voltages etc.

Has this been done yet, if yes what did the CPU temps and voltage max out at, if no, do asap and most certainly before reapplying the thermal compound.

Good quality thermal compounds like those mentioned will when correctly applied most often last the lifetime of the computer and so never need replacing unless the heatsink gets disturbed or removed, short version, if you have not disturbed the heatsink on the CPU at all look at other possible causes of elevated temperatures, dust bunnies blocking the veins on the HS and the CPU being overvolted are two things that must get checked out first.

[monicandave]

Has this been done yet, if yes what did the CPU temps and voltage max out at, if no, do asap and most certainly before reapplying the thermal compound.

We haven’t done this yet. When the computer was built, we used whatever thermal paste came with the bits. It certainly wasn’t a high quality one. I figured that when we take the pc out to the workshop on Saturday to use the air compressor to clean it, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to use the opportunity to put a better paste on at the same time.

[phillpower2]

You need to do as was suggested first, removing the HS is always the last resort due to the risk of damage to the CPU or CPU socket.

I figured that when we take the pc out to the workshop on Saturday to use the air compressor

What type of compressor is this. I hope you don`t mean an industrial one.

[monicandave]

What type of compressor is this. I hope you don`t mean an industrial one.

No, it’s just a home one and we can adjust the pressure.

[Rustys]

Here are some basic instructions on properly cleaning the inside of a computer.

Get some cans of compressed air and blow the system clean. Make sure the system is powered off and unplugged. Remove the battery if a laptop if the battery can be removed.

Read the instruction on the can. Spray in short burst and when the can start to feel cool to the touch switch to a different can. After they warm up to room temp they work fine.

Do this in a well-ventilated room or outside this way the dust does not settle all over the inside furniture or worse you or someone inhaling it.

Do NOT turn the cans upside down, turn the system. Remove the battery and blow that our as well.

NOTE: You take the chance of wrecking the bearings of fans with the compressed air. Compressed air can actually accelerate the fans beyond their rated speeds and damage them, if you are cleaning them out with air, it is often recommended to hold the blades in place with a toothpick or other non-conducive material.

NOTE: Do not use a vacuum to clear the dust they can cause a static discharge and end up toasting the system or a components. There are also jumper on the boards that could be sucked off and then the system would be bricked.

Clean the keyboard
Put the with the keyboard facing down then gently rub your hand back and forth over the keys this will knock some of the larger pieces out. Then place the system on its side and blow the keys (remember to use short burst like before) starting from the top working you way down. Heat form portable computers is released through the keyboard.

[Bruce]

@monicandave - any news?

[monicandave]

We blew a whole load of dust out. I didn’t change the thermal paste. We turned the plug off at the wall both Friday and Saturday nights and ran a speccy both mornings.

Saturday AM

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/DeMQqYFwCa7vmHdhwpDwJ3n

Sunday AM

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/bYRgVtpfrl7TvN1XZKr4W4t

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[phillpower2]

Speccy CPU temps were not too bad on Saturday but Sunday the temp was bad again.

The top looks to be missing from the HWMonitor info, the voltages and CPU temps to be exact.

[monicandave]

Sorry about that.

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[phillpower2]

The CPU temps look to being caused by the CPU getting too much voltage, see related threads here

[monicandave]

Okay, I’ll have a look at those, thank you